Principal Practitioner Psychologist/Principal Psychological Therapist

Sussex Partnership Nhs Foundation Trust; South Harting; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust seeks a Principal Practitioner Psychologist to lead psychological services within the Level 2 Rehabilitation Service at 78 Crawley Road, West Sussex.

You will deliver highly specialist assessments, formulations, and interventions for complex mental health needs while supervising staff, driving service development, and promoting evidence-based practice across the multidisciplinary team.

Qualifications

• Postgraduate qualification in psychotherapy with relevant accreditation.
• Registration with the appropriate regulatory body is required.
• Experience in trauma-focused psychotherapy and dissociation.
• Evidence of CPD and ongoing professional development.
• Training in research methodology or staff training.

Responsibilities

• Provide clinical and professional leadership for psychological services.
• Deliver highly specialist assessments, formulations and interventions.
• Offer supervision, teaching and training within the team.
• Lead on service development, governance, audit and QA.
• Ensure evidence-based practice aligned with Trust standards.

Skills

Trauma and Dissociation CPD

Dissociative Disorder experience

EMDR Consultant

Supervision of staff

Education

Postgraduate qualification (master's level) in psychotherapy/psychological therapy

Professional accreditation (ACP/BABCP/BACP/BPC/H CPC/UKCP)

Registered/accredited as psychotherapist/psychological therapist

Continuing professional development evidence

Post-qualification training in specialised areas

Job description

Job summary

78 Crawley Road is a Level 2 inpatient mental health rehabilitation service providing specialist assessment, treatment and recovery-focused rehabilitation for adults with complex mental health needs. The service supports individuals to develop the skills, confidence and independence required to progress towards greater autonomy and successful community living, working closely with patients, carers and partner agencies to promote recovery while reducing restrictive practices.

The service comprises an 8-bedded intensive rehabilitation unit and 16 rehabilitation bungalows, providing a flexible pathway tailored to individual needs and stages of recovery. Patients may present with severe and enduring mental illness, and some may also have co-existing learning disabilities, autism, personality disorder, or be subject to the Mental Health Act. Care is delivered through a multidisciplinary approach incorporating psychological, medical, nursing, occupational therapy and social care interventions.

The post holder will be a key member of the multidisciplinary team, contributing to assessment, care planning, risk management, therapeutic interventions and service development. They will support the delivery of high-quality, evidence-based rehabilitation that promotes social inclusion, physical wellbeing, independence and successful transition to less restrictive settings and community living.

Main duties of the job

The Principal Practitioner Psychologist will provide clinical and professional leadership for psychological services within the Level 2 Rehabilitation Service at 78 Crawley Road. The post holder will deliver specialist psychological assessments, formulations and evidence-based interventions for adults with complex and enduring mental health needs, while providing consultation and psychological expertise to the multidisciplinary team.

The role includes responsibility for clinical supervision, workforce development, teaching and training, and promoting psychologically informed practice across the service. The post holder will contribute to multidisciplinary assessment, care planning, risk management, recovery-focused interventions, and discharge planning, ensuring patients receive high-quality, person-centred care.

As a senior clinician, the post holder will lead on service development, clinical governance, audit, research and quality improvement activities. They will provide expert advice to operational and professional leaders, support recruitment and staff development, and ensure psychological services are delivered in line with evidence-based practice, professional standards and Trust policies.

About us

Staff wellbeing is of central importance in the trust as a whole and in the team. There is an emphasis on encouraging and supporting our staff to develop, whilst working in psychologically safe environments.

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust promotes high quality clinical research, and our links with the research and development department are valued and strong. The Trust is committed to Trauma Informed Care; We value Lived Experience and Co-production.

Job responsibilities

The Principal Practitioner Psychologist will provide clinical and professional leadership for psychological services within the Level 2 Rehabilitation Service at 78 Crawley Road. The post holder will deliver highly specialist psychological assessments, formulations, and evidence-based interventions for patients with complex mental health needs, while providing consultation and psychological expertise to the multidisciplinary team.

The role includes responsibility for clinical supervision, staff development, teaching and training, and promoting psychologically informed practice across the service. The post holder will contribute to multidisciplinary care planning, risk management, recovery-focused interventions, and service user and carer involvement, ensuring high standards of care and positive rehabilitation outcomes.

The post holder will also lead on service development, clinical governance, audit, research, and quality improvement initiatives, providing expert advice to managers and clinical teams to ensure services are evidence-based, effective, and aligned with Trust and professional standards.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• Evidence of CPD in Trauma and Dissociation
• Experience in working with Dissociative Disorder
• EMDR Consultant
• Experience of supervising others in specialist trauma model

Qualifications

Essential

• Postgraduate qualification (master's level or equivalent) in a recognised psychotherapy/psychological therapy, leading to professional accreditation with an appropriate body (e.g. ACP, BABCP, BACP, BPC, HCPC, UKCP).
• Professionally registered/accredited as a psychotherapist/ psychological therapist with the relevant registration/accrediting body.
• Evidence of relevant continuing professional development as required by the registration/accrediting body.
• Post-qualification training in one or more additional specialised areas of psychotherapeutic/psychological practice.
• Training and qualifications in research methodology and/or staff training.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Principal Practitioner Psychologist/Principal Psychological Therapist • West Sussex, United Kingdom